Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds began their Australian tour at Fremantle Park in Perth on Saturday night, performing to an audience of approximately 10,000 people. The concert marked the Australian debut of the band's 2024 album, "Wild God," and featured a two-and-a-half-hour performance combining new material with songs spanning Cave's four-decade career.
Concert Details
The opening featured tracks including "Frogs" and the album's title track, "Wild God." Nick Cave commenced the show wearing a charcoal-black suit, white shirt, and tie. The setlist balanced rock-gospel hymns with elements of the band's earlier soundscapes, showcasing a mix of their recent and classic works.
Band Lineup
The Bad Seeds lineup for the tour included Warren Ellis, Jim Sclavunos, George Vjestica, Larry Mullins, Colin Greenwood on bass, and Carly Paradis on keyboards. A four-member gospel choir also accompanied the band during the performance.
Setlist Highlights
The performance included tracks from the "Wild God" album such as "Frogs," "Wild God," "Song of the Lake," and "Joy." During the performance of "Joy," Warren Ellis contributed vocals, and Nick Cave performed an a cappella segment, with the word "joy" displayed on screen.
Other songs featured from their extensive discography included:
- "From Her to Eternity" from the band's first album.
- "Joy" and "Tupelo" from their 1985 album, "The First Born Is Dead." "Tupelo" was noted to describe the birth of Elvis Presley, and during its performance, Nick Cave engaged the audience in a call-and-response, with stage lighting featuring green flashes.
- "O Children" (2004), during which Warren Ellis played violin.
- "Bright Horses" (2019) from the "Ghosteen" album, performed with Cave's vocal delivery noted as steady.
- Popular songs from Cave's 18 studio albums, such as "Red Right Hand" and "The Mercy Seat."
Stage Production
The stage design incorporated a narrow runway extending into the audience and a lighting scheme that utilized gold, green, and red hues. Lyrics from songs were displayed on side and rear screens, which visually referenced the "Wild God" album's artwork.
Encore
The encore comprised five songs, including "Skeleton Tree" (2016). Nick Cave stated that he had initially set this song aside after writing it following his son Arthur's death and later re-evaluated it. The performance concluded with Nick Cave playing "Into My Arms" (1997) solo on piano, with the audience invited to sing the concluding lines.
Upcoming Tour Dates
The Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds Australian tour is scheduled to continue through January and February, with performances planned in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.